Extraordinary Mistakes II - Blood Ties

They need you

Aminu holds his hoodie tight, the one Abigail gave him only last week. When they were last together, before she was taken. His mind keeps replaying everything, every word she said. How she asked for a hug before leaving and how he stupidly said no. Said they would see each other again in a few days, that it didn't make sense.

His phone keeps lighting up. People call him, but he hasn't even answered his own family. He stays by the corner, sitting in the only position that he finds comfortable, trying to stop his brain.

He rocks back and forth, holding his knees tight, carving his nails into the flesh. Not hurting as much as his turmoil of thoughts.

A knock on the door resonates.

I should've put my headphones on. Go away.

"Aminu, please. I'm worried," Padma's voice echoes in the corridor.

Go away. He keeps rocking back and forth. Tapping his right hand on his left elbow continuously.

"I'll just say here, then. Until you open," and she sits on the floor, takes a sandwich from her backpack, and reads the news on her phone.

It takes well over four hours until he finally opens the door a bit. She's standing in front of his door, stretches her legs and stands up. He refuses to face her and snaps his fingers.

"Can I come in?" The gentleness of her voice doesn't make any change to his demeanor.

He just scratches his head and opens a bit more the door. She slowly comes in. It's dark in there. There's not a single light turned on and she knows she has to respect it.

"How are you?"

He doesn't answer, instead goes back to his corner, sits again in his position, rocking back and forth.

"There's something I wanted to talk to you about. Regarding Emily and Abigail."

He begins to be more agitated and crosses his arms to try to calm down.

"I'll say this quickly, so this will go more smoothly. I work for an organization, similar to the Institute, that has a lot of resources. They are trying to find them. But to do that, they need an amplifier, Aminu," she sits down facing him, "they need you. You are the best, they need the best."

Aminu stops rocking.

"What organization?" He gets up and walks to his fridge, takes out a soda for himself, and doesn't offer anything to Padma.

"Like I said, it's like the Institute, but in the private sector. It develops..." she notices him pacing back and forth, "improvements on deviant matters. The bracelet started there actually," he turns to her momentarily and keeps going. "They are building a machine. The idea is to connect it to both a mental controller and an amplifier and use it to search for the terrorists. When they find them, they will find Emily and Abigail and bring them home safely, also... bring the terrorists finally to justice." She swallows her saliva.

He walks past her and sits again in his corner.

"Don't know, o."

"I understand, Aminu," she sits again, facing him, "and I wouldn't be pressing you so much if time wasn't of essence... for them. This is a project that needs to start right away so they can save them. The longer they strive for ideal conditions, the greater the risk of harm to Abigail and Emily."

"Don't know... There are other amplifiers."

"Amplifiers are rare, Aminu. They've asked Eurasia for help. They said no. Here in the States, you are the most talented. Your levels are outstanding, more than anyone else. And who knows? Maybe you'll like it. The pay is so much better there and you can work in both places. There's an impressive lab. Ahktar is also the head there, maybe he'll be more than glad to have you there too."